ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE:DLSP - 18 BLACKROCK COLLEGE - 29: With fellow strugglers Galwegians and Ballymena both registering unlikely wins, DLSP dropped into the relegation zone after losing to Blackrock at Kilternan on Saturday.

Blackrock's abiltity to win back possession proved crucial but they were handed a relatively soft opening score when Gary Brown slipped a tackle to race over on the left-hand side. DLSP regrouped with Simon Broughton reducing the arrears on six minutes but Conor Kilroy restored Blackrock's five-point advantage and then came their second try on the half hour when Gavin McCarthy emerged from a ruck to score.

DLSP enjoyed their best spell when Broughton sent over his second penalty and Jason Critchley intercepted to cross under the posts with Broughton converting to put the sides level.

However, kicks each side of the break from Kilroy allowed the visitors to keep their noses in front. And there was more bad news for DLSP on 54 minutes when John Corry charged down an attempted clearance to score under the posts and Kilroy converted.

DLSP remained defiant and three minutes later, a long pass out released Eddie Devitt who shrugged off a challenge to make the line. But they were never able to close the gap on the visitors after that with Kilroy adding another penalty.

DLSP: E Devitt; C Cadogan, J Critchley, S Gormley, M Vironeau; S Broughton, M Cross; E Moore, A Davies, D Masters, P Mc Donnell, E Candlin, A Toher, S McCarthy, J Deen. Replacements: K Condron for Moore (65 mins), B Hogan for Cadogan (65 mins).

BLACKROCK: N Turner; A O'Neill, G Brown, A Greally, C Kilroy; J Corry, B Twomey; N Fox, G Mc Evoy, N Treston, M Carroll, J Fitztgerald, D O'Brien, R Woods, G Mc Carthy. Replacemements; R Rogers for Woods (50 mins), I McMc Loughlin for Fox (62 mins), D Mc Gettigan for Carroll (65 mins), A Boyd for Twomey (75 mins), M Price for Corry (70 mins),

Referee: J Sheehan(MRA).